Blue light scandal being investigated
By Lee Rondganger
The SA Police Service's VIP Protection Unit is to come under the spotlight during the next few weeks as investigators from the Independent Complaints Directorate begin a full-scale probe into its bullying tactics.
The investigation is the result of yet another scandal involving the unit, which during the past few years has gained a reputation for harassing motorists with their speeding motorcades and blue lights.
Tommy Tshabalala, general manager of investigations at the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), said the investigation should be complete within a month.
Among the aspects that the ICD would probe is whether the unit complies with the standard operating procedures, and the discipline of its members.
"This is going to be a high-level investigation because this unit operates from the national police office," said Tshabalala.
"We want to find out how many complaints the units has received over the past 12 months, how these complaints were dealt with and whether appropriate action was taken."
The Democratic Alliance's Dianne Kohler-Barnard has welcomed the probe, saying the VIP Protection Unit had become a law unto themselves.
ANC spokesperson Carl Niehaus said the ICD had every right to probe the conduct of the VIP unit.
"The actions of the VIP unit should be determined by the risk they face, and must be based on security and not if someone is late for a meeting. And they should act in a responsible way for every road user."
Tshabalala said the investigation would take into account the various incidents that have occurred across the country.
"There is definitely an issue of discipline that needs to be looked at. Nobody is a law unto themselves."
He added he should have a progress report complete in two weeks and the investigation complete in a month.
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